Reference plate with outriggers for dental work

ABSTRACT

A dental reference plate has a bearing plate hinged to a frontal bar generally shaped to conform with the anterior portion of a patient&#39;&#39;s teeth. Clamped between the frontal bar and a removable stud is a pair of outriggers which may be used in conjunction with external holding means to assist in firmly holding the reference plate against the patient&#39;&#39;s jaw.

United States Patent H 1 [111 3,724,099 Stuart Apr. 3, 1973 [54] REFERENCE PLATE WITH I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS OUTRIGGERS FOR DENTAL WORK [76] Inventor: Charles Edward Stuart, PO. Box

891, Ventura, Calif.

[22] Filed: July 21, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 164,695

[52] US. Cl. ..32/19 [51] Int. Cl ..A6lc 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..32/l9, 20, 21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,130,494 4/1964 MacKay ..32/20 De Pietro ..32/20 384,249 10/1923 Germany ..32/20 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Attorney-Pastoriza & Kelly [57] ABSTRACT A dental reference plate has a bearing plate hinged to a frontal bar generally shaped to conform with the anterior portion of a patients teeth. Clamped between the frontal bar and a removable stud is a pair of Outriggers which may be used in conjunction with external holding means to assist in firmly holding the reference plate against the patients jaw.

15 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 1973 3, 724,099

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INVENTOR. CHARLES EDWA RD STUART A TTORNE Y5 PATENTEDAPR 3 ms 3, 724, 099

sum 2 OF 2 INVENTORI CHAR LES E DWARD STU ART paw & M?

ATTORNEYS REFERENCE PLATE WITH OUTRIGGERS FOR DENTAL WORK BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to dental equipment for obtaining jaw movement information and more specifically to adjustable dental reference plates that can be adjusted to accommodate the jaw of a particular dental patient.

The reference plate of this invention is similar in some respects to well known dental clutch formers such as that described in US. Pat. No. 3,557,455 entitled Adjustable And Reusable Dental Clutch Former granted on Jan. 26, I971 to Charles Edward Smart. The prior art concerning dental clutch formers is fully described in that patent.

A dental clutch former, in order to operate, must clutch or be directly adhesively attached to a patients teeth. In a much different manner the reference plate of this invention may be either positioned loosely against the patients teeth or gum and held firmly in place by an external holding device, or, used as a dental clutch former.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated the present invention comprehends a dental reference plate insertable into a patients mouth to assist in obtaining medical information such as jaw movements, tooth geometry, meshing relationship between upper and lower teeth, etc.

In its broader aspects the reference plate has an intra-mouth frontal bar formed with an arcuate surface generally configured like and positionable near the anterior portion of a persons teeth. An intra-mouth flexible bearing plate is'coupled to the frontal bar in a manner so that the plate and bar define a zone for retaining mouldable plastic. A pair of outriggers are coupled to the frontal bar and spaced laterally outwardly from the opposing sides of the bearing plate by a sufficient distance so that the outriggers will be oriented externally of the patients mouth.

The outriggers may be formed by the arms of a generally U-shaped integral strip of material. A removable stud may be detachably connected to the frontal bar and arranged to securely mount the outriggers between the stud and frontal bar.

The outriggers can be attached to external holding means inorder to permit the reference plate to be securely held in place within the patients mouth. When the reference plate is specially shaped for use in conjunction with a patients upper jaw, the external hold.- ing means is characterized by a head cap positionable on the patients head and a pair of resilient bands interconnecting the outriggers with opposite sides of the head cap. Alternatively, when the reference plate is specially shaped for use in conjunction with the patients lower jaw, then the external holding means is characterized by a resilient band looped around both outriggers and positionable beneath the patients chin.

Preferably the reference plate has a pair of side walls pivotally coupled to opposing ends of the frontal bar. Orienting means is provided for tilting the reference plate relative to the frontal bar. The orienting means is constituted by a pair of oppositely extending locking screws each of which engages both the reference plate and frontal bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The numerous benefits and unique aspects of the present invention will be fully understood when the following detailed description is studied in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing upper and lower dental reference plates arranged in vertically spaced relationship and oriented in a manner for insertion into a patients mouth.

FIG. 2 is a sectional-view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the orienting means used in connection with the upper dental reference plate.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the upper and lower dental reference plates arranged in a patients mouth and held securely in place by way of a cap and resilient bands with regard to the upper reference plate and by way of a rubber band with regard to the lower reference plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 an upper dental reference plate 10 and a lower dental reference plate 11 are shown in superposed relationship. Upper dental reference plate 10 constitutes a framework or a unit shaped to be loosely positioned on a patients maxilla or ppper jaw. In a similar manner lower dental reference plate 11 constitutes a framework or unit for being loosely positioned on a patients mandible or lower jaw. As shall be fully explained the reference plates 10 and 11 are constructed of components that can be easily assembled and adjusted to assist in shaping the reference plates to generally conform with a particular patients upper jaw and lower jaw dimensions. After being removed from a particular patients mouth the reference plates, instead of being thrown away, can be disassembled and reshaped to accommodate varying jaw shapes and dimensions of other patients.

Upper dental reference plate 10 incorporates a frontal bar 12 having an arcuate surface 13 which, when the reference plate 10 is fully formed with mouldable plastic as shall be described, is positionable adjacent the anterior portion of the patients upper teeth. Frontal bar 12 is integrally formed with side sections 14 and 15 that terminate in reinforced or generally thicker end blocks 16 and 17 respectively. Reference plate 10 has a bottom section 18 and an outwardly projecting mounting block 19 for detachably holding a removablestud 20. Removable stud 20 has a mounting face 21 which is of complementary shape to interlock with mounting block 19, a hollow sleeve 22 fixed to mounting face 21 and anelongated screw 23 which extends throughout hollowsleeve 22 and is interengaged with a threaded opening formed in mounting block 19 (not shown).

The end blocks 16 and 17 are formed with threaded pivot pin holes 26 (only one of which is shown) and a hole 27 is formed through an intermediate location of frontal bar 12, the three holes serving as retention openings for holding mouldable plastic (not shown).

Coupled to frontal bar 12 is a flexible bearing plate 30 having a central recess 31 and a central striking plate section 32 formed with a concave undersurface portion whose function will be described. A strip of bearing plate 30 defines a flat U-shaped area 33. Up-

material. The strip 40 is of general U-shape and its arms constitute a pair of Outriggers 41 and 42 spaced laterally outwardly of bearing plate side walls 34 and 35. Cross piece 43 is tightly clamped between stud 20 and bearing plate 30.

The constructionof lower dental reference plate 11 is basically the same as that of upper dental reference plate and a full description of one will suffice for an understanding of both. A bearing plate 44 carries a height adjustment screw 45 interengaged with one of plural threaded openings 46. The screw45 has a head 47 shaped to engage the concave undersurface of striking plate 32 in order to maintain the necessary vertical distance between the upper dental reference plate 10 and lower dental reference plate 11. Bearing plate 44 is hinged to the end blocks 48 (only one is shown) of the frontal bar 49 by way of a pair of pivot pins 50. An integral strip 51 of generally U-shaped resilient material is clamped between a removable stud 52 and frontal bar 49. The strip 51 is bent to form a pair of outriggers 53 and 54. Orienting means in the form of two locking screws 55 (only one of which is shown) is coupled to and between the bearing plate 44 and frontal bar 49.

Referring now to FIG. 2 the orienting means for upper dental reference plate 10 includes locking screw 37 which has a socketed head 56 and a threaded stem 57 which is interengaged with a frontal bar threaded bore 57a while its tip 58 abuts the outer part of bearing plate 30. The otherand oppositely facing locking screw 38 extends through the bearing plate 30 so its socketed head 59 engages the bearing plate 30 while its stem 60 is interengaged with another threaded bore 61 formed in frontal bar 12. i

By adjusting the orienting means so that locking screw 37 is extended and locking screw 38 is retracted the bearing plate 30 is caused to tilt relatively upwardly as indicated by the dot-dash line T. Alternatively, by adjusting the orienting means so that locking screw 37 is retracted and locking screw 38 is extended the hearing plate 30 is caused to be tilted in the opposite direction; As the bearing plate 30 is caused to assume different inclinations relative to frontal bar 12 then the associated removable stud is simultaneously caused to be reoriented.

The orienting means associated with both reference plates can be manipulated so as to cause the studs to be parallel. When the studs are maintained parallel and clamped to the cross bars of dental face bows (not shown) then the dental information to be recorded such as jaw movements can be more accurately accumulated in order to eventually rehabilitate a patients oral imperfection.

Referring to FIG. 3 an upper external holding means 62 is provided for firmly and accurately holding the upper dental reference plate 10 against the patients upper jaw. A head cap 63 has a circumferentially adjustable strip 64 with semi-circular segments 65 around which are looped one or more resilient bands 66. A band 66 attached to the left side segment 65 of the head cap 63 is looped around outrigger 41. Similarly a band on the right side of the head cap 63 is looped around the opposite outrigger. The bands 66 operate to pull the dental reference plate 10 upwardly in order to firmly place it against the patients upperjaw.

' Another holding means 67 is provided to firmly hold the lower reference plate 11 against the patients lower jaw. A resilient band 68 is looped around both outriggers 53 and 54 and is supported by engaging beneath the patients chin.

OPERATION Keeping the above construction in mind it can be understood how many of the previously described disadvantages of prior art dental clutch formers are overcome or substantially eliminated by the present invention.

The upper dental reference plate 10 and lower dental reference plate 11 may be accurately held in place within the patients mouth even if the patient lacks teeth. If the patient has teeth then a suitable and conventional mouldable plastic may be deposited along the zone defined between associated bearing plates and frontal bars to make the attachment more comfortable for the patient. The rubber bands of the upper holding means 62 and lower holding means 67 act to firmly hold the reference plates in their proper positions.

In the case of conventional dental clutch formers when the patient lacks teeth there are no elements within the patients mouth to which the dental clutch formers may be attached by way of some intermediate compound. In accordance with this invention'if the patient lacks teeth then upper dental reference plate 10 and lower dental reference plate 11 may adequately be held in their desired positions by upper holding means 62 and lower holding means 67 alone. In addition, although it is not necessary, mouldable plastic may be inserted for comfort purposes.

The removable studs 20 and 52 of the upper and lower dental reference plates can be quickly oriented parallel with one another by manipulating and adjusting the orienting means of one or both reference plates until the removable studs are tilted into parallel relationship. After the studs are attached to dental recording equipment in avwell known manner the desired dental information can be gathered and recorded.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the present invention has provided a reference plate with outriggers for dental work in which all of the various advantages are fully realized.

What is claimed is:

1. A reference plate for assisting in obtaining dental information, comprising:

a. an intra-mouth frontal bar having an arcuate surface generally configured like and positionable near the anterior portion of a persons teeth;

b. an intra-mouth flexible bearing plate coupled to the frontal bar, the bearing plate and frontal bar defining a zone for retaining mouldable plastic; and,

the outriggers are formed by the arms of a generally- U-shaped integral strip of material.

3. The structure according to claim 2, including:

a removable stud connected to the frontal bar and arranged to securely clamp the integral strip between itself and frontal bar.

4. The structure according to claim 1, including:

external holding means attached to the outriggers for holding the reference plate in place within the patients mouth.

5. The structure according to claim 4, wherein;

the external holding means include a resilientband looped around both outriggers and positionable beneath the patients chin.

6. The structure according to claim 4, wherein the external holding means includes:

a head cap positionable on the patients head and;

a pair of resilient bands interconnecting the outriggers with opposite sides of the head cap.

7. The structure according to claim 1, wherein;

the bearing plate has a pair of side walls pivotally coupled to opposing ends of the frontal bar.

8. The structure according to claim 7, including:

a pair of openings extending through the frontal bar for mounting pivot pins that couple the bearing plate side walls to the frontal bar; and,

an intermediate opening extending through the frontal bar, the three openings serving as retention openings to assist in holding mouldable plastic material within said zone.

9. The structure according to claim 7, including:

orienting means for tilting the bearing plate relative to the frontal bar.

10. The structure according to claim 9, wherein;

the orienting means includes a pair of oppositely extending locking screws, each screw of which engages both the bearing plate and frontal bar.

11. The structure according to claim 10, wherein the pair of locking screws are constituted by:

a first locking screw that extends transversely through the bearing plate and into interengagement with a first threaded bore in the frontal bar;

and,

a second locking screw that is interengaged with a second threaded bore in the frontal bar and abuts against the bearing plate at a point more inwardly than the first locking screw,

wherein, by extending the first locking screw an retracting the second locking screw the bearing plate is tilted in one direction and by-retracting the first locking screw and extending the second locking screw the bearing plate is caused to tilt in the opposite direction.

12. A set of reference plates for assisting in obtaining dental information, comprising:

a. an upper reference plate;

b. a first intra-mouth frontal bar forming part of the upper reference plate, the bar having an arcuate surface generally configured like and positionable near the anterior portion of a patients u per teeth c. A first intra-mou h flexible bearing pla e couple to the first frontal bar and having a striking plate section with a concave surface portion, the first bearing plate and first frontal bar defining a zone for mouldable plastic;

d. a first pair of outriggers coupled to the first frontal bar and spaced laterally outwardly from opposing sides of the first bearing plate, the first pair of outriggers being positionable external of the patients mouth;

e. first external holding means attached to the first outriggers for holding the upper reference plate in place within the patients mouth;

f. a lower reference plate;

g. a second intra-mouth frontal bar forming a part of the lower reference plate, the bar having an arcuate surface generally configured like and positionable near the anterior portion of a patients lower teeth;

h. a second intra-mouth flexible bearing plate coupled to the second frontal bar and carrying a height adjustment element for engaging said concave undersurface portion to regulate the distance between the upper and lower reference plates, the second bearing plate and second frontal bar defining a zone for retaining mouldable plastic;

, i. a second pair of outriggers coupled to the second frontal bar and spaced laterally outwardly from opposing sides of the second bearing plate, the second pair of outriggers being positionable external of the patients mouth; and,

j. second external holding means attached to the second pair of outriggers for holding the lower reference plate within the patients mouth.

13. The structure according to claim l2, wherein;

the first external holding means includes a head cap positionable on the patients head and a pair of resilient bands interconnecting the first pair of outriggers with opposite sides of the head cap; and,

' the second external holding means is a resilient band each reference plate has a pair of side walls pivotally coupled to opposing ends of the associated frontal bar; and, orienting means is provided for tilting the bearing plate relative to the associated frontal bar. 

1. A reference plate for assisting in obtaining dental information, comprising: a. an intra-mouth frontal bar having an arcuate surface generally configured like and positionable near the anterior portion of a person''s teeth; b. an intra-mouth flexible bearing plate coupled to the frontal bar, the bearing plate and frontal bar defining a zone for retaining mouldable plastic; and, c. a pair of outriggers coupled to the frontal bar and spaced laterally outwardly from opposing sides of the bearing plate, the outriggers being positionable external of the patient''s mouth.
 2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein; the outriggers are formed by the arms of a generally U-shaped integral strip of material.
 3. The structure according to claim 2, including: a removable stud connected to the frontal bar and arranged to securely clamp the integral strip between itself and frontal bar.
 4. The structure according to claim 1, including: external holding means attached to the outriggers for holding the reference plate in place within the patient''s mouth.
 5. The structure according to claim 4, wherein; the external holding means include a resilient band looped around both outriggers and positionable beneath the patient''s chin.
 6. The structure according to claim 4, wherein the external holding means includes: a head cap positionable on the patient''s head and; a pair of resilient bands interconnecting the outriggers with opposite sides of the head cap.
 7. The structure according to claim 1, wherein; the bearing plate has a pair of side walls pivotally coupled to opposing ends of the frontal bar.
 8. The structure according to claim 7, including: a pair of openings extending through the frontal bar for mounting pivot pins that couple the bearing plate side walls to the frontal bar; and, an intermediate opening extending through the frontal bar, the three openings serving as retention openings to assist in holding mouldable plastic material within said zone.
 9. The structure according to claim 7, including: orienting means for tilting the bearing plate relative to the frontal bar.
 10. The structure according to claim 9, wherein; the orienting means includes a pair of oppositely extending locking screws, each screw of which engages both the bearing plate and frontal bar.
 11. The structure according to claim 10, wherein the pair of locking screws are constituted by: a first locking screw that extends transversely through the bearing plate and into interengagement with a first threaded bore in the frontal bar; and, a second locking screw that is interengaged with a second threaded bore in the frontal bar and abuts against the bearing plate at a point more inwardly than the first locking screw, wherein, By extending the first locking screw and retracting the second locking screw the bearing plate is tilted in one direction and by retracting the first locking screw and extending the second locking screw the bearing plate is caused to tilt in the opposite direction.
 12. A set of reference plates for assisting in obtaining dental information, comprising: a. an upper reference plate; b. a first intra-mouth frontal bar forming part of the upper reference plate, the bar having an arcuate surface generally configured like and positionable near the anterior portion of a patient''s upper teeth; c. A first intra-mouth flexible bearing plate coupled to the first frontal bar and having a striking plate section with a concave surface portion, the first bearing plate and first frontal bar defining a zone for mouldable plastic; d. a first pair of outriggers coupled to the first frontal bar and spaced laterally outwardly from opposing sides of the first bearing plate, the first pair of outriggers being positionable external of the patient''s mouth; e. first external holding means attached to the first outriggers for holding the upper reference plate in place within the patient''s mouth; f. a lower reference plate; g. a second intra-mouth frontal bar forming a part of the lower reference plate, the bar having an arcuate surface generally configured like and positionable near the anterior portion of a patient''s lower teeth; h. a second intra-mouth flexible bearing plate coupled to the second frontal bar and carrying a height adjustment element for engaging said concave undersurface portion to regulate the distance between the upper and lower reference plates, the second bearing plate and second frontal bar defining a zone for retaining mouldable plastic; i. a second pair of outriggers coupled to the second frontal bar and spaced laterally outwardly from opposing sides of the second bearing plate, the second pair of outriggers being positionable external of the patient''s mouth; and, j. second external holding means attached to the second pair of outriggers for holding the lower reference plate within the patient''s mouth.
 13. The structure according to claim 12, wherein; the first external holding means includes a head cap positionable on the patient''s head and a pair of resilient bands interconnecting the first pair of outriggers with opposite sides of the head cap; and, the second external holding means is a resilient band looped around the second pair of outriggers and positionable beneath a patient''s chin.
 14. The structure according to claim 13, including: a first removable stud connected to the first frontal bar and arranged to clamp the first pair of outriggers against the first frontal bar; and a second removable stud connected to the second frontal bar and arranged to clamp the second pair of outriggers against the second frontal bar.
 15. The structure according to claim 12, wherein; each reference plate has a pair of side walls pivotally coupled to opposing ends of the associated frontal bar; and, orienting means is provided for tilting the bearing plate relative to the associated frontal bar. 